China's ruling party, the Communist Party of China (CCP), has punished more than 110,000 officials in an anti-corruption drive, the Indo-Pacific Centre for Strategic Communications (IPCSC) said in a report on Tuesday (May 9). Since the 18th National Congress of the CCP in 2012, the Xi Jinping administration has launched an anti-corruption campaign. Those publicly investigated and dealt with after the 18th National Congress include state-level officials, deputy state-level officers, military commission members, dozens of ministerial-level officers, and hundreds of deputy ministerial-level officers.&nbsp;

Citing data, the IPCSC report said, "111,000 people were fined in the first quarter of this year, including provincial and provincial-level cadres, 633 department-level cadres, 669 district-level cadres, and 1,000 townships. Includes level cadres, and 15,000 general cadres. And 76,000 executives in rural areas, businesses, etc."

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-tightens-screws-on-consulting-firms-in-anti-spy-crackdown-590749">China tightens screws on consulting firms under anti-spy crackdown, raids Capvision offices</a>

Recently, the official WeChat handles of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervisory Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist&nbsp;Party of China released their monthly anti-corruption report. The report mentioned that in the first quarter, disciplinary inspection and supervision agencies across China received 776,000 petitions and reports, of which 231,000 were complaints and accusations.

The prominent senior officials under investigation include Du Zhaocai, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport of China; Li Xiaopeng, former Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of China Everbright Group Co.&nbsp;Ltd among others.&nbsp;

Last month, three central cadres were dismissed and over 120 CCP members and department-level cadres were fined.

Meanwhile, data from the March anti-corruption report said that 7,021 violations were investigated and dealt with, involving 10,285 people. 
 
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China's ruling party, the Communist Party of China (CCP), has punished more than 110,000 officials in an anti-corruption drive, the Indo-Pacific Centre for Strategic Communications (IPCSC) said in a report on Tuesday (May 9).

China's ruling party, the Communist Party of China (CCP), has punished more than 110,000 officials in an anti-corruption drive, the Indo-Pacific Centre for Strategic Communications (IPCSC) said in a report on Tuesday (May 9). Since the 18th National Congress of the CCP in 2012, the Xi Jinping administration has launched an anti-corruption campaign. Those publicly investigated and dealt with after the 18th National Congress include state-level officials, deputy state-level officers, military commission members, dozens of ministerial-level officers, and hundreds of deputy ministerial-level officers. Citing data, the IPCSC report said, "111,000 people were fined in the first quarter of this year, including provincial and provincial-level cadres, 633 department-level cadres, 669 district-level cadres, and 1,000 townships. Includes level cadres, and 15,000 general cadres. And 76,000 executives in rural areas, businesses, etc." ALSO READ | China tightens screws on consulting firms under anti-spy crackdown, raids Capvision offices Recently, the official WeChat handles of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervisory Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China released their monthly anti-corruption report. The report mentioned that in the first quarter, disciplinary inspection and supervision agencies across China received 776,000 petitions and reports, of which 231,000 were complaints and accusations. The prominent senior officials under investigation include Du Zhaocai, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport of China; Li Xiaopeng, former Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of China Everbright Group Co. Ltd among others. Last month, three central cadres were dismissed and over 120 CCP members and department-level cadres were fined. Meanwhile, data from the March anti-corruption report said that 7,021 violations were investigated and dealt with, involving 10,285 people. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China punishes more than 110,000 officials in anti-corruption drive: Report

Chinese authorities carried out a nationwide crackdown on consulting firms engaging in alleged espionage activities as Beijing tightens grip on foreign access to sensitive information.

Chinese media reports named only one firm where the raids were carried out across various cities—Capvision.

Media reports stated that Chinese enforcement agencies carried out synchronized operations in Capvision branches in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Suzhou. The employees were questioned and office items were examined. It is unclear when the raids took place.

Capvision was set up in 2008 by ex-Bain consultants and Morgan Stanley bankers. It offers consultation services to more than 2000 clients and has headquarters in Shanghai and New York, according to its website.

The company has been accused of failing to "seriously fulfill its counterintelligence responsibilities and obligations to prevent espionage", Chinese state broadcaster Jiangsu Television said on Monday.

An unnamed police officer told the broadcaster that Capvision routinely hired "highly-paid consulting experts" with close ties to Chinese authorities to "illegally obtain various types of sensitive data", which he said posed "major risks to China's national security".

Responding to the allegations, the firm wrote on its WeChat account that it would be "resolute" in fulfilling its national security responsibilities. It would also take on a "leading role" in regulating the consulting industry, it said, according to BBC.

The development comes a week after the Chinese police raided the Shanghai offices of US consultancy giant Bain &amp; Company. Officers seized their computers and phones, according to the Financial Times, which cited people briefed on the matter.

And in March, Chinese authorities detained five local staff at Mintz Group and shuttered its Beijing office.

The Chinese foreign ministry had accused New York-based due diligence firm Mintz Group, which specialises in background checks, fact gathering and internal investigations, “of illegal operations".

The latest clampdown on the consultancy firms stems from an anti-espionage law that was implemented last month that expanded the definition of "spying" and included cyberattacks against state bodies or critical information infrastructure.

The revised law, which will take effect from July 1, also gives Chinese authorities more teeth to forcibly search the belongings or request data of individuals suspected of spying.

Under this law, Chinese authorities can also ban citizens suspected of spying from leaving the country, or foreign nationals from entering.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Chinese authorities carried out a nationwide crackdown on consulting firms engaging in alleged espionage activities as Beijing tightens grip on foreign access to sensitive information.

Chinese authorities carried out a nationwide crackdown on consulting firms engaging in alleged espionage activities as Beijing tightens grip on foreign access to sensitive information. Chinese media reports named only one firm where the raids were carried out across various cities—Capvision. Media reports stated that Chinese enforcement agencies carried out synchronized operations in Capvision branches in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Suzhou. The employees were questioned and office items were examined. It is unclear when the raids took place. Capvision was set up in 2008 by ex-Bain consultants and Morgan Stanley bankers. It offers consultation services to more than 2000 clients and has headquarters in Shanghai and New York, according to its website. The company has been accused of failing to "seriously fulfill its counterintelligence responsibilities and obligations to prevent espionage", Chinese state broadcaster Jiangsu Television said on Monday. An unnamed police officer told the broadcaster that Capvision routinely hired "highly-paid consulting experts" with close ties to Chinese authorities to "illegally obtain various types of sensitive data", which he said posed "major risks to China's national security". Responding to the allegations, the firm wrote on its WeChat account that it would be "resolute" in fulfilling its national security responsibilities. It would also take on a "leading role" in regulating the consulting industry, it said, according to BBC. The development comes a week after the Chinese police raided the Shanghai offices of US consultancy giant Bain & Company. Officers seized their computers and phones, according to the Financial Times, which cited people briefed on the matter. And in March, Chinese authorities detained five local staff at Mintz Group and shuttered its Beijing office. The Chinese foreign ministry had accused New York-based due diligence firm Mintz Group, which specialises in background checks, fact gathering and internal investigations, “of illegal operations". The latest clampdown on the consultancy firms stems from an anti-espionage law that was implemented last month that expanded the definition of "spying" and included cyberattacks against state bodies or critical information infrastructure. The revised law, which will take effect from July 1, also gives Chinese authorities more teeth to forcibly search the belongings or request data of individuals suspected of spying. Under this law, Chinese authorities can also ban citizens suspected of spying from leaving the country, or foreign nationals from entering. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

China tightens screws on consulting firms under anti-spy crackdown, raids Capvision offices

In the events before and after the 1990 Baren Uprising, Chinese police brutality reportedly killed some 3,000 Uyghurs.&nbsp;As the world marks the 33-year anniversary of the Baren township clashes which took place between April 5 and April 10, some&nbsp;questions still&nbsp;remain&nbsp;unanswered. But they go beyond the fight for the independence of East Turkestan. It is about the rights of ethnic Uyghur minority in China's Xinjiang province.&nbsp;

WION spoke to Uyghur American activist Rushan Abbas, the founder of nonprofit group Campaign for Uyghurs, as she recounts the horror of Baren uprising and opens up about her sister Gulshan Abbas who was sentenced to 20 years of jail in China.&nbsp;

She termed the events that took place in Baren Township in 1990 as nothing short of "horrific".

Recalling about the horrendous crackdown, the Uyghur American activist said Chinese government, as part of their ongoing campaign of colonisation, forced assimilation &nbsp;and population control, began forcing Uyghur and other Turkic women to undergo abortions.&nbsp;

"This act of violence against innocent civilians was the last straw for the villagers of Baren, who had already suffered for decades under Chinese occupation," she told WION.&nbsp;

In response, the Uyghurs peacefully protested, but when their voices went unheard, "they took up arms to defend themselves"&nbsp;against the Chinese "invaders".&nbsp;

"Instead of listening to the concerns and grievances of the people, the Chinese occupation forces responded with brutal force. They flooded Baren Township with People's Liberation Army soldiers and launched a massive massacre of innocent civilians, including women and children," she added.&nbsp;

Over the extent of the violence and bloodshed, she expressed shock, saying thousands of innocent Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples were massacred, some even subjected to heavy weaponry and airstrikes.&nbsp;

"The people of Baren were simply fighting for their basic human rights and freedom, yet they were met with unimaginable violence and cruelty from the Chinese government."&nbsp;

She urged the international community to continue to speak out against such atrocities and stand in solidarity with those who are fighting for their basic human rights and freedom.&nbsp;

The leaked Xinjiang Police Files tainted China's rights situation which the country still claims stand unsullied. The in-depth reports exposed not only Xinjiang internment camps but went straight down to revealing the information and images of the detainees too. The leak coincided with the former UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet's visit to China on May 23, 2022, an outcome of which only drew criticism from many supporting rights of Uyghurs and speaking against China's "genocide."&nbsp;

Abbas said that Volker Turk, as the newly appointed UN High Commissioner for human rights, has a responsibility to uphold and protect human rights, including those of individuals in Tibet, Hong Kong, and East Turkistan.&nbsp;

It is important to note that the Chinese government has consistently denied the existence of human rights abuses in these regions, despite numerous reports to the contrary.

Abbas asserted that Turk must do the right thing and hold the perpetrators accountable.

"Any efforts by the UN or other international bodies to address these issues will likely be met with opposition and pushback from the Chinese government."

She said the situation in East Turkistan is a grave concern for human rights advocates around the world, "including the detention of my sister Dr. Gulshan Abbas and the millions of other Uyghurs."

Gulshan Abbas was arrested by China in March, 2019 on terrorism-related charges after disappearing in September 2018.

"Given China's track record of denying access to independent experts and rejecting calls for accountability, it is difficult to predict the likelihood of her release or any significant progress in addressing the Uyghur Genocide."

&nbsp;

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In the events before and after the 1990 Baren Uprising, Chinese police brutality reportedly killed some 3,000 Uyghurs. As the world marks the 33-year anniversary of the Baren township clashes which took place between April 5 and April 10, some questions still remain unanswered.

In the events before and after the 1990 Baren Uprising, Chinese police brutality reportedly killed some 3,000 Uyghurs. As the world marks the 33-year anniversary of the Baren township clashes which took place between April 5 and April 10, some questions still remain unanswered. But they go beyond the fight for the independence of East Turkestan. It is about the rights of ethnic Uyghur minority in China's Xinjiang province. WION spoke to Uyghur American activist Rushan Abbas, the founder of nonprofit group Campaign for Uyghurs, as she recounts the horror of Baren uprising and opens up about her sister Gulshan Abbas who was sentenced to 20 years of jail in China. She termed the events that took place in Baren Township in 1990 as nothing short of "horrific". Recalling about the horrendous crackdown, the Uyghur American activist said Chinese government, as part of their ongoing campaign of colonisation, forced assimilation and population control, began forcing Uyghur and other Turkic women to undergo abortions. "This act of violence against innocent civilians was the last straw for the villagers of Baren, who had already suffered for decades under Chinese occupation," she told WION. In response, the Uyghurs peacefully protested, but when their voices went unheard, "they took up arms to defend themselves" against the Chinese "invaders". "Instead of listening to the concerns and grievances of the people, the Chinese occupation forces responded with brutal force. They flooded Baren Township with People's Liberation Army soldiers and launched a massive massacre of innocent civilians, including women and children," she added. Over the extent of the violence and bloodshed, she expressed shock, saying thousands of innocent Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples were massacred, some even subjected to heavy weaponry and airstrikes. "The people of Baren were simply fighting for their basic human rights and freedom, yet they were met with unimaginable violence and cruelty from the Chinese government." She urged the international community to continue to speak out against such atrocities and stand in solidarity with those who are fighting for their basic human rights and freedom. The leaked Xinjiang Police Files tainted China's rights situation which the country still claims stand unsullied. The in-depth reports exposed not only Xinjiang internment camps but went straight down to revealing the information and images of the detainees too. The leak coincided with the former UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet's visit to China on May 23, 2022, an outcome of which only drew criticism from many supporting rights of Uyghurs and speaking against China's "genocide." Abbas said that Volker Turk, as the newly appointed UN High Commissioner for human rights, has a responsibility to uphold and protect human rights, including those of individuals in Tibet, Hong Kong, and East Turkistan. It is important to note that the Chinese government has consistently denied the existence of human rights abuses in these regions, despite numerous reports to the contrary. Abbas asserted that Turk must do the right thing and hold the perpetrators accountable. "Any efforts by the UN or other international bodies to address these issues will likely be met with opposition and pushback from the Chinese government." She said the situation in East Turkistan is a grave concern for human rights advocates around the world, "including the detention of my sister Dr. Gulshan Abbas and the millions of other Uyghurs." Gulshan Abbas was arrested by China in March, 2019 on terrorism-related charges after disappearing in September 2018. "Given China's track record of denying access to independent experts and rejecting calls for accountability, it is difficult to predict the likelihood of her release or any significant progress in addressing the Uyghur Genocide." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

EXCLUSIVE: Recounting China's Baren crackdown, activist Rushan Abbas wants world to speak out on Uyghurs

In a series of crackdowns that included big tech firms, entertainment stars, business magnets, China is now targeting the LGBTQ community.

Fabien Baussart, writing in The Times of Israel said that China's communist government is coming down heavily on the LGBTQ community, initiating measures to keep them under constant surveillance in a university and instructing broadcasters to stop using "effeminate men" in television programmes in order to promote "revolutionary culture".

In a country where there is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships or marriage, the attempt of the Chinese Communist Party to gain control over the country's education, culture and entertainment is ending up interfering in people's private lives.

In the latest crackdown on entertainment programmes on television, the Chinese television regulator is heard saying, "resolutely put an end to sissy men and other abnormal esthetics". The insulting slang used for "effeminate men" is "niang pao", literally, "girlie guns," wrote Baussart.

The official concern is that television programmes are not encouraging China's young men to be masculine enough, instead of copying, as some Chinese pop stars do, the sleek, girlish look of some South Korean and Japanese singers and actors.

"China has instituted stricter censorship of LGBTQ and related terms on social media. Earlier this summer, social media giant WeChat deleted the official accounts of over a dozen student-run LGBT groups," echoed The Diplomat.

The social media swoop down came as a surprise because in recent times the Chinese government had left the LGBTQ community alone.

In July first week, WeChat, China's most popular messaging app, shut down without notice scores of LGBTQ accounts operated by university students. It came as a shock because it was the biggest and coordinated censorship targeting the community in several years.

As per The Times of Israel, this was done in response to an event in China a few weeks ago. Soccer star Li Ying created history when she became the first woman sportsperson to come out openly as gay. She posted a series of photographs on social media, including some with her partner.

The post on Weibo went viral and suddenly without explanation, it was deleted. The soccer star has not posted anything ever since. The Chinese state media did not report the incident at all. There is no official reaction to date.

Worse things were in store for the community. The media has reported that Shanghai University, which has three campuses in the Chinese city, is preparing a list of "non-heterosexual" students and those belonging to "LGBTQ rainbow groups", said Baussart.

Apart from denying several rights to them, the Chinese government has over time done things like equating homosexuality with violence and obscenity, censoring references on television, and promoting books referring to homosexuality as a mental illness, reported The Times of Israel.

It was only in 2001 that China removed homosexuality -- decriminalized in 1997 -- from its official list of mental disorders.

In a series of crackdowns that included big tech firms, entertainment stars, business magnets, China is now targeting the LGBTQ community. Fabien Baussart, writing in The Times of Israel said that China's communist government is coming down heavily on the LGBTQ community, initiating measures to keep them under constant surveillance in a university and instructing broadcasters to stop using "effeminate men" in television programmes in order to promote "revolutionary culture".

In a series of crackdowns that included big tech firms, entertainment stars, business magnets, China is now targeting the LGBTQ community. Fabien Baussart, writing in The Times of Israel said that China's communist government is coming down heavily on the LGBTQ community, initiating measures to keep them under constant surveillance in a university and instructing broadcasters to stop using "effeminate men" in television programmes in order to promote "revolutionary culture". In a country where there is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships or marriage, the attempt of the Chinese Communist Party to gain control over the country's education, culture and entertainment is ending up interfering in people's private lives. In the latest crackdown on entertainment programmes on television, the Chinese television regulator is heard saying, "resolutely put an end to sissy men and other abnormal esthetics". The insulting slang used for "effeminate men" is "niang pao", literally, "girlie guns," wrote Baussart. The official concern is that television programmes are not encouraging China's young men to be masculine enough, instead of copying, as some Chinese pop stars do, the sleek, girlish look of some South Korean and Japanese singers and actors. "China has instituted stricter censorship of LGBTQ and related terms on social media. Earlier this summer, social media giant WeChat deleted the official accounts of over a dozen student-run LGBT groups," echoed The Diplomat. The social media swoop down came as a surprise because in recent times the Chinese government had left the LGBTQ community alone. In July first week, WeChat, China's most popular messaging app, shut down without notice scores of LGBTQ accounts operated by university students. It came as a shock because it was the biggest and coordinated censorship targeting the community in several years. As per The Times of Israel, this was done in response to an event in China a few weeks ago. Soccer star Li Ying created history when she became the first woman sportsperson to come out openly as gay. She posted a series of photographs on social media, including some with her partner. The post on Weibo went viral and suddenly without explanation, it was deleted. The soccer star has not posted anything ever since. The Chinese state media did not report the incident at all. There is no official reaction to date. Worse things were in store for the community. The media has reported that Shanghai University, which has three campuses in the Chinese city, is preparing a list of "non-heterosexual" students and those belonging to "LGBTQ rainbow groups", said Baussart. Apart from denying several rights to them, the Chinese government has over time done things like equating homosexuality with violence and obscenity, censoring references on television, and promoting books referring to homosexuality as a mental illness, reported The Times of Israel. It was only in 2001 that China removed homosexuality -- decriminalized in 1997 -- from its official list of mental disorders.

LGBTQ students targeted, face crackdown in China

China's crackdown on cryptocurrencies has spread to the country's southwest with a campaign against misuse of electricity by bitcoin miners in Yunnan province, local media reported on Saturday.

In addition to concerns about the huge amounts of energy needed for the computing power to create cryptocurrencies, the central government is also concerned about speculation after a surge in the price of bitcoin.

China accounts for over half of global bitcoin production, but some miners have been considering moving elsewhere after the State Council, China's cabinet, vowed to clamp down on bitcoin mining and trading last month.

The Energy Administration of Yunnan on Friday issued a notice ordering a probe into misappropriation and unauthorized use of electricity by bitcoin miners, vowing punishment, the Science and Technology Innovation Express News said.

A copy of the notice, which sets an end-June deadline, was circulating on Chinese social media. Calls to the Energy Administration of Yunnan were not answered on Saturday.

The probe in Yunnan, China's fourth-biggest bitcoin mining hub, follows restrictions in several other areas. The northwestern province of Qinghai and a district in neighbouring Xinjiang have ordered cryptocurrency mining projects to close.

Inner Mongolia has unveiled measures to root out crypto mining, while Sichuan is probing the industry.

An increasing number of Chinese crypto miners are considering folding the business in China, and moving offshore, said Lei Tong, managing director for financial services at Babel Finance, a Hong Kong-based crypto lender and asset manager.

China's crackdown on cryptocurrencies has spread to the country's southwest with a campaign against misuse of electricity by bitcoin miners in Yunnan province, local media reported on Saturday.

China's crackdown on cryptocurrencies has spread to the country's southwest with a campaign against misuse of electricity by bitcoin miners in Yunnan province, local media reported on Saturday. In addition to concerns about the huge amounts of energy needed for the computing power to create cryptocurrencies, the central government is also concerned about speculation after a surge in the price of bitcoin. China accounts for over half of global bitcoin production, but some miners have been considering moving elsewhere after the State Council, China's cabinet, vowed to clamp down on bitcoin mining and trading last month. The Energy Administration of Yunnan on Friday issued a notice ordering a probe into misappropriation and unauthorized use of electricity by bitcoin miners, vowing punishment, the Science and Technology Innovation Express News said. A copy of the notice, which sets an end-June deadline, was circulating on Chinese social media. Calls to the Energy Administration of Yunnan were not answered on Saturday. The probe in Yunnan, China's fourth-biggest bitcoin mining hub, follows restrictions in several other areas. The northwestern province of Qinghai and a district in neighbouring Xinjiang have ordered cryptocurrency mining projects to close. Inner Mongolia has unveiled measures to root out crypto mining, while Sichuan is probing the industry. An increasing number of Chinese crypto miners are considering folding the business in China, and moving offshore, said Lei Tong, managing director for financial services at Babel Finance, a Hong Kong-based crypto lender and asset manager.

China's cryptocurrency-mining crackdown spreads to Yunnan in southwest - Media

China has kicked off a fresh wave of crackdown against critics. Ren Zhiqiang - a critic who called Xi Jinping a 'clown' over his response to the coronavirus is under investigation. WION's Palki Sharma brings you stories of 3 critics who showed the courage to speak out.

Gravitas:  A fresh wave of crackdown in China | Wuhan Coronavirus